Schmidt reshuffles the deck with big hitters for Twickenham Test

On Wednesday night, the Wallabies enjoyed a low-stakes game of poker together in their hotel and by Thursday morning, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had shuffled his squad that is deprived of three aces in Exeter’s Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau and Leicester’s James O’Connor.

Saturday’s Test does not fall in the three-week window where clubs must release O’Connor, Ikitau and Hooper, via World Rugby’s regulation nine, although England can name a full-strength side from the same competition due to a negotiated deal between the Premiership and the Rugby Football Union.

“It’s not really a distraction for us, it’s an opportunity . . . you often get dealt a set of cards and while you may shuffle the deck a little bit or try to steal a card from somewhere else, if those cards aren’t available, you shuffle what you’ve got and try to put out your best hand,” Schmidt said.

“We feel that we’ve got a hand that can challenge England, but we know how good they are and that might not be enough, but we’re certainly going to give it a try.”

Schmidt clarified that Rugby Australia were never in a position to negotiate with Exeter or Leicester for the release of Ikitau, Hooper or O’Connor due to the threat of a fine for both clubs if they released the players for the Test.

The Wallabies will welcome back Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Fraser McReight, Allan Alaalatoa, Nick Frost and Taniela Tupou in the match-day squad, after the players were rested in the narrow win against Japan last Saturday in Tokyo.

Schmidt has selected Harry Potter to start on the wing ahead of Dylan Pietsch, who impressed in his Test comeback in Japan after fracturing his jaw in South Africa. Schmidt confirmed that Pietsch was being managed in his recovery.

“Dylan Pietsch is still getting back to full speed, it’s been a bit of a recovery for him since injuring himself against South Africa (in Johannesburg),” Schmidt said.

“It was probably just something that we pre-planned to share the opportunities for the two sets of wingers to get an opportunity over the first two games of this northern tour.”

After captaining the Wallabies against Japan last Saturday, Nick Champion de Crespigny is named as a replacement due to Carlo Tizzano recovering from what Schmidt described as a “medial collateral ligament twinge” suffered in the Japan Test. Tizzano took part in training on Thursday in London.

Tane Edmed gets his third consecutive start for the Wallabies at five-eighth with the Force’s Hamish Stewart on the replacements bench to provide cover for the playmaker. Schmidt backed Edmed’s progress with the Wallabies.

“I think if any of the people in the room had the opportunity to have a chat with Tane they’d see what a quality young man he is and how hard he’s working at his craft,” Schmidt said.

“I’ve had the luxury of working with some really good tens in my time and tens who’ve played 100 test matches or more, whether it be for the All Blacks or Ireland, and you don’t suddenly get that good.

“You don’t turn up in your fourth Test match and start running the game like you do when you’ve had 50 tests. You learn from experiences and that allows you to get better and getting better is never linear either.

“There are going to be tough moments for Tane and we know that and there’s going to be some really good moments...he’s working really hard at trying to bring the team with him.”

Carter Gordon played a full role in training on Thursday in front of his future Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss who briefly visited the team’s hotel, as the playmaker recovers from a minor quadriceps strain.

“In recent times we’ve had lots of time with James O’Connor so we know for the next three weeks James will be available as well and Carter will be as well,” Schmidt said.

“Carter trained really well today and trained fully within the team session so he’s now had two weeks to probably recalibrate himself around rugby and also just to reintegrate with the Wallabies playing slightly differently than they did last time he was with the team (in the 2023 World Cup).

As expected, Hunter Paisami retains his place at inside centre after impressing in Japan, with Kellaway starting at fullback to allow Max Jorgensen to move back to wing, after featuring as the Wallabies’ last man in defence for two consecutive Tests against New Zealand.

Wallabies prop Angus Bell gets his second consecutive Test start, after providing ballast from the bench in nine Tests this year. Powerful second-rower Lukhan Salakaia-Loto will take his place on the bench after recovering from a rib injury sustained in Tokyo.

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